Deerfield Academy student wins Regional Brain Bee

Sunday

Feb 2, 2014 at 6:00 AMFeb 2, 2014 at 4:59 PM

By Donna Boynton TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

WORCESTER — The human brain is a mystery to Liam Gong.

But you wouldn't know that listening to the way he answered questions about the brain's size, shape and function during yesterday's eighth annual Central Massachusetts Regional Brain Bee held at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

The 15-year-old from Minnesota is a boarding student at Deerfield Academy. He answered every question directed at him during the 90-minute bee, getting them all correctly as each of his 10 opponents were eliminated.

The prize for the aspiring neuroscientist: A ticket to the National Brain Bee competition in Baltimore in March. He was also awarded the Anderw M. Sheridan Young Neuroscientist Award, named in honor of a Southboro student and aspiring neuroscientist who died in 2007.

"I think the brain is just a mystery," Liam said, after winning the contest. "It is intensely interesting to think about the aspects that make us think and perceive. I want to study neuroscience because there are broad applications to helping people."

It is students like Liam that the Brain Bee aims to inspire. The local Brain Bee competition is one of more than 150 in the country.

"We want to inspire them to think broader than perhaps they have before," said Dr. Douglas Ziedonis, professor and chair of the Psychiatry Department at UMass Medical School and UMass Memorial Health Care. "These kids are so bright, and it is really exciting to see them participate in this."

Dr. Ziedonis added that the hope is to inspire students not only to pursue a career in neuroscience, but in other science fields including public health, nutrition and dentistry.

In the years since the Brain Bee began, the organizers have heard back from former students, some of whom are studying neuroscience, public health and nutrition.

Nearly 70 students from 12 Central Massachusetts high schools — and a few beyond — participated in the eighth annual regional Brain Bee.

The Brain Bee includes a written exam, a question-and-answer session about brain structure and function, identification of neurological disorders and ends with an oral round of questions for the top 10 scoring students. Due to a tie, there were 11 top-scoring students participating in the oral questions, with five of them coming from the team of Grafton High students.

Schools participating this year included: David Prouty High School, Deerfield Academy, Massachusetts Academy of Math and Science, North High School (Worcester), Grafton High School, Northbridge High School, Quabbin Regional High School, Shrewsbury High School, Tahanto Regional High School, Wayland High School, Westboro High School and Westford Academy.

If he advances beyond the National Brain Bee, Liam could participate in an international championship held later this year. For now, Liam is focused on studying, and trying to win, an internship in neuroscience when he returns home to Minnesota in the summer.

Contact Donna Boynton at Donna.Boynton@telegram.com or follow her on Twitter @DonnaBoyntonTG